Does Power corrupt ?

[Retro Doomer]

So more of a psychological question do you believe that giving to much power to people corrupts them or do you believe it only brings out what they are truly in the inside
aka they where always twisted but kept in check when they had no power or do you believe they where good or neutral maybe even well intended and that the overwhelming power corrupted them ?

This Question I find it interesting since the saying goes Power corrupts but is it really the case or does it just shows what was already hidden deep inside of people ?

Also its purely non political so no real life Politician example you can use fictional once like if you gained super powers and nobody could stop you anymore stuff like that to comply with the sites rule.

 

[RageBurner]

Power always corrupts, if drunk from the proverbial fountain for long enough. It would steely principles and unflinching self restraint to maintain one's posture.

 

[Retro Doomer]

Power always corrupts, if drunk from the proverbial fountain for long enough. It would steely principles and unflinching self restraint to maintain one's posture.

I also would say it can corrupt more often than not but not always if you truly are strong in hearth and mind you stay good but most Humans are not that strong and get easily tempted or tempted over time.

 

[RageBurner]

I also would say it can corrupt more often than not but not always if you truly are strong in hearth and mind you stay good but most Humans are not that strong and get easily tempted or tempted over time.

Yes. We are not defined by our strengths; rather, we are besieged by our weaknesses.

 

[Retro Doomer]

Yes. We are not defined by our strengths; rather, we are besieged by our weaknesses.

Ironically to become better Humans we have to constantly fight or lesser Human urges which some people do better than others.

This is why someone needs a Strong mind and willpower not to just succumb to it.

 

[jon2]

Two quotes:

"Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible."

- Herbert, Frank (1985). Chapterhouse Dune

"A thief without opportunity sees himself as an honest man. Don’t brag about your morals until you have enough money to fund your temptations."

- attributed to the Nigerian author and social commentator Ugochukw

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

power corrupts weak men

 

[Elwiwi]

Yeah she does

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

I have the feeling that we will see another fight

 

[G.L.a.D.O.S.]

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~John Dalberg-Acton/Lord Acton~

 

[contrail_]

Power inherently distances the ones with power from the people over whom they have said power. Great power also increases the amount of people you're responsible for. It is beyond any single individual's capacity to personally care about more than 100-300 people. That's why one death is a tragedy, but a million deaths are a statistic. (look up the term 'monkey sphere')
As for political corruption, it's intrinsically connected to this concept. Imagine you have a childhood friend who ended up becoming a doctor. You get sick but you're having trouble, so you ask your doctor friend for help and he agrees. In doing so, you two have just committed a minor form of corruption. It only gets more complicated on the higher floors of politics.
Essentially, in order for corruption to be completely eradicated, we also have to get rid of the concept of doing your friends favors, which would put them ahead of random people that you don't know. I suppose that's why they say that 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'.

edit: I'm strictly talking about political corruption here. The news and all the political discussions have rendered the word meaningless and have taken the humanity out of it. I don't know if power corrupts absolutely, but corruption isn't something people can get rid of while we have institutions ran by people, because it's inherently human. Things related to war, blackmail, the criminal underworld's indisputable connection to the political world and people dying is an entirely different can of worms.

 

[Retro Doomer]

Yeah she does

Ah Power would never..

She is honest and pure as a...(Insert something here)